James chase



Fries.

PATENT JAMES CHASE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

MUClLAGE-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,156, dated October3, 1893.

Application filed May 15, 1893- Serial No, 474,226. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES CHASE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements n Mucilage-Holders, of whichthe following is a specification. This invention relates to holders andspread- 1ng devices for mucilage, paste, liquid colors and s milarmaterials which it is desirable to keep 1n lmmediate readiness forsmooth and even application to any required surfaces w thout liabilityof obstruction from impaired pliability of the spreading device or brushdue to gumming or hardening thereon of any surplus adhesive or coloringmatter, or the llke, remaining in or upon the brush or spreader afteraprevious use of the instrument.

The principal objects of my invention are to provlde a compressiblefountain or holder for mucilage, or other liquids, with an im: provedspreading device that will obviate leakage and with an elastic annularflange or seat which shall closely conform to a corresponding seatformed in or upon the circular mouth of a supporting vessel that is thusadapted to serve as an air tight or hermetically sealed chamber forexcluding the external atmosphere, thereby preventing the drying andhardening of matter in or upon the brush or distributing device andkeeping it in a moist and pliable condition for an indefinite period andin readiness for instant use.

My invention has for its other objects, to arrangethe elasticannularflange upon the fountain or holder in such a manner that it willcenter the distributing brush or spreading device within the supportingvessel so as not to come 1n contact with the sides or bottom thereof; toprovide in the lower part of the supportng vessel a receptacle forwater, so that the lnclosed air will be kept moist; and generally to soimprove the construction of the fountain and its air sealing support asto greatly lncrease the efficiency and convenience of the apparatus forhousehold as well as office use.

To these ends my invention consists in the features of construction andnovel combinations of parts in a self-sealing compressible fountain orholder and spreader for mucilage, or other liquids, as hereinafter moreparticularly described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings illustrating my invention-Figure 1, is avertical section representing the compressible fountain or holder in aninverted position with the attached brush or distributing devicecentered in the hermetically sealed supporting vessel. Fig. 2, is anelevation of the fountain removed from the sealing or supporting vesseland standing upright.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designatesa compressiblefountain or holder for containing, and discharging as required, suchliquids as mucilage, paste, ink, and various coloring matters or likematerial. This compressible fountain 1 is in the form of an oblong bulbcomposed of rubber or similar elastic substance that can be readilycompressed, while held in the hand so, as to expel its liquid contentsthrough a brush or spreading device at one end.

In the smaller end'of the fountain bulb 1 is secured a flanged andexternally threaded tubular neck 2 for attachment of an internallythreaded tubular cap 3 having a nozzle or discharge tube 4, locatedcentrally therein. Between this internal nozzle or discharge tube 4.,and the elongated tubular portion of the cap 3 is secured a spreadingdevice 5 which may be a piece of felt or other porous and flexiblematerial, but is preferably composed of bristles arranged in the form ofa brush. The butts of the brush bristles fill the whole of the spacebetween the central nozzle or discharge tube 4, and the outer end of thetubular cap 3, and are securely cemented therein. Within the enlargedportion or base of the screw cap 3, is placed a valve or porousdiaphragm 6 to control the inner end of the discharge nozzle 4, andprevent the escape of liquid except when the fountain bulb iscompressed. This valve or diaphragm 6 is preferably in the form of adisk or pad,of felt or similar material. By reason of the small diameterof the nozzle 4, and the obstructive character of the felt pad ordiaphragm 6, the liquid will not escape from the inverted fountainunless the elastic bulb is compressed.

For the purpose of expelling the contents of the fountain, and spreadingthe same smoothly and uniformly upon any required surface, the fountainbulb is grasped in the hand and compressed from time to time, while IOCthe brush 5, is moved along or over the surface. The porous diaphragm orpad 6, serves to sufficiently retard the exit of fluid, undercompression of the bulb, as to cause an even and regular flow to thebrush and a smooth and uniform distribution or spreading of thematerial. 1

In many devices of this character, great difliculty is commonlyexperienced from the drying, hardening or gumming of surplus materialupon the brush, unless the device is kept in almost constant use. When,by infrequent use and from exposure to the atmosphere, the surplus ofmucilage, or like material on the brush, loses its moisture the brushwill become hard, dry and unpliable and cannot be employed with anysatisfaction. It has been proposed to keep the brush in a moistcondition by surrounding thelower portion of the inverted fountain andthe attached brush with a supporting receptacle which has not, however,been provided with any adequate means for firmly retaining the fountainin a vertical position to prevent it from rocking and, at the same time,thoroughly exclude the atmosphere. The spherical portion of a fountainbulb has, for instance, been directly seated at its lower end in thecircular mouth of acup with a view to exclude air from the brush whilenot in use; but no means being provided to prevent rocking of the bulbfrom any slight jar, the position of the brush is liable to become sochanged as to strike the mouth or upper portion of the cup and smear thesame so that the fountain will adhere thereto, while the hardenedadhesive material that will accumulate upon the exterior of the bulb,and in the mouth of the cup will prevent the forming of an elastic sealto exclude air from the brush. These difficulties and objections, Ieffectually obviate by providing the exterior of the compressiblefountain bulb 1 with a centrally located thin, elastic annular flange orself sealing seat 7 that will rest upon and readily conform itself tothe contour of the circular mouth 8, of a supporting vessel 9, so as toform a close hermetically sealed joint therewith. The vessel 9, with thefountain 1, in position thereon, thus forms a hermetically sealed or airtight chamber whereby the brush 5 is thoroughly protected from anyaccess of the external atmosphere. It will be observed, that by theweight of the bulb 1 and its contents, the thin elastic flange 7 ispressed down into close and continuous contact with the circular mouthor rim 8 upon which it rests and which is preferably press molded so asto permit the most accurate fit.

By making the annular elastic flange 7, thin, its flexibility is greatlyincreased, so as to enable it to more readily conform to the contour ofthe upper surface or rim of the mouth 8, and the accuracy of fit may befurther insured by providing the flange 7 with beveled surfaces, asshown. A thoroughly reliable and eificient hermetic seal is thusprovided. The elastic annular flange 7, also, serves to accuratelycenter the brush 5, within the vessel 9, so that it will not come incontact with the bottom and sides thereof. It also firmly retains thefountain bulb in a vertical position,so thatit cannot be jarred orshaken out of place. There is thus no risk of contact between the brushand the mouth of the vessel 9, so that the latter will be always cleanand free from any liability of adhering to the bulb or fountain. Thesupporting vessel 9, is of cylindrical form with a broad base and may beconstructed of any suitable material, preferably glass. For the purposeof keeping moist the air within the vessel 9, the bottom of said vesselmay be provided with a concaved receptacle 10 for a small quantity ofwater which should not, however, be allowed to come in contact with thebrush. As above mentioned, the circular mouth or rim 8 of the glassvessel 9, is press molded and thus permits an accurate conformity withthe elastic annular sealing flange 7 on the fountain bulb.

In order to enable the fountain 1 to be stood upright upon a desk ortable when it is not convenient to return it at once to the supportingvessel 9 the larger end of the compressible bulb may be provided with aflat or broad horizontal base 11 that will furnish an adequate temporarysupport, but for the purpose of retaining the brush 5 in a moist orpliable condition, free from access of the evaporating influence oftheatmosphere, the fountain when not in use should be supported by itsthin elastic flange 7 upon the vessel 9, with the brush 5 downwardwithin and protected by the said hermetically sealed vessel.

WVhen it becomes necessary to refill the fountain bulb the screw 3 withattached nozzle 4:, brush 5, and pad 6 can be removed all togetherwithout any liability of disarrangement. The screw cap provides a safeclosure and, if desired, an elastic washer 12 may be inserted between itand the neck of the bulb.

I have found that if the brush or spreader is allowed to remain outsidethe cup or was sel 9 long enough to become dried and hardened and isthen placed in the said vessel with a small quantity of water (notsufficient to reach the brush) it will, by the action of the damp airinclosed in the hermetically sealed vessel, become soft and pliable andready for use. If preferred a small quantity of glycerine or othermoistening liquid may be used in the vessel or cup 9, instead of water.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A compressible fountain or elasticbulb, for mucilage or other liquids, having at one end a tubular neck,in combination with a screw cap provided with a discharge nozzle andbrush or spreading device, and having a porous pad or diaphragm at theinner end of said discharge nozzle, substantially as described.

2. A compressible fountain or elastic bulb for mucilage or other liquidshaving a discharge nozzle, and a brush or spreading device at one endand provided on its exterior with a thin elastic annular sealing flange,in In testimony whereof I have hereunto set combination with a vesselprovided with a my hand in the presence of two subscribing circularmouth with which the thin elastic witnesses.

flange by its flexibility and elasticity closely 7 JAMES CHASE.accommodates itself to hermetically seal the Witnesses:

vessel and also sustain the bulb, snbstan- WM. H. FARRAND,

tially as described. WM. 0. LOWREY.

